Repairs
HP LaserJet 1022n on Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7 – Application Error
A quick look at the event viewer shows the following text under application errors:
Faulting application name: spoolsv.exe, version: 6.1.7600.16385, time stamp: 0x4a5bd3d1Faulting module name: ZSR.dll, version: 6.20.1625.0, time stamp: 0x462fe8cfException code: 0xc0000005Fault offset: 0x000000000002b54cFaulting process id: 0×1630Faulting application start time: 0x01cbd54165192238Faulting application path: C:\Windows\System32\spoolsv.exeFaulting module path: C:\Windows\system32\spool\DRIVERS\x64\3\ZSR.dllReport Id: aae37e2d-4134-11e0-92e4-00188b539493Faulting application name: spoolsv.exe, version: 6.1.7600.16385, time stamp: 0x4a5bd3d1Faulting module name: ZSR.dll, version: 6.20.1625.0, time stamp: 0x462fe8cfException code: 0xc0000005Fault offset: 0x000000000002b54cFaulting process id: 0x1630Faulting application start time: 0x01cbd54165192238Faulting application path: C:\Windows\System32\spoolsv.exeFaulting module path: C:\Windows\system32\spool\DRIVERS\x64\3\ZSR.dllReport Id: aae37e2d-4134-11e0-92e4-00188b539493
It looks like we are going to have to do some research and repair on our own server. We did some online searching and found that Philip Elder wrote a blog post here about this particular problem. However, in his situation which was related to Windows 7 x64 (Note: Windows Server 2008 R2 uses the same Kernel as Windows 7, and Server 2008 R2 was only released as 64-bit). So we are having the same issue. The difference is that his troubleshooting techniques involved a USB connection, while our problem is a network connection, so we cannot simply uninstall the printer from the Device Manager.
When restarting the Print Spooler Service and quickly attempting to remove the offending printer, we were greeted with an Access Denied error.
Clearly as soon as the 1022n printer is detected, the service fails. Our next step was to simply unplug the LaserJet 1022n printer from the network, restart the service and try again.
This time, we were able to remove the HP printer. The service did not fail and the HP 6500 and other printers were able to print properly.
We restarted the print spooler after emptying the printer queue from a phantom 1022n icon that came up under printers.
After this, we powered up the HP 1022n printer again to make sure that we will not have any more issues with this printer on the network. After this we reinstalled the HP Printer using the “Add Printer…” button.
During driver installation and choosing the specific driver (downloaded from HP’s website) we manually installed the HP 1022n as a network printer and hit “Replace current driver” when prompted.
We were able to print a test page without any problem even after a restart, printing has been fine.
Thank You for reading!
-Marc Menzies
Owner & Operator Overview Computer Services,LLC
2570 North Jerusalem Road
North Bellmore, NY 11710
12″ Apple PowerBook G4 Optical Drive Replacement
Today I had a simple repair, a client came in that had a 12″ Apple PowerBook G4. There was a disc stuck in the SuperDrive (optical drive) and the computer could not detect the drive at all. Regardless of the type of failure (mechanical or electrical) the drive needed to be replaced.
The client had already purchased a new drive so all that I had to do was install it. The procedure took about one hour including assembly and disassembly. With this type of computer, the SuperDrive is the last component to come out of the computer. Apple designed this computer so that the computer had to be disassembled in this order: RAM Cover, Keyboard, Top Casing, Modem, heatsink, wiring, Hard Drive, Motherboard and finally the SuperDrive. I followed the procedure from PowerBook Medic here since it had been a couple of years since I dealt with a 12″ Apple PowerBook G4 Optical Drive Replacement and did not want to chance anything on the reassembly.
HP OfficeJet 8500 (A909a) Setup saves Office Headaches
Today I had a simple on site appointment for a client of mine in Hempstead 11550 (Hempstead, New York). I do the IT work for the office of his Electrical Contractor company. The client had an HP OfficeJet 4250 printer that just wasn’t cutting it. Although it had all of the networking options (Ethernet and Wireless) he just needed it for the PC in his office, none of the other computers in his office needed to be hooked up to this printer. The problem with the HP OfficeJet 4250 was that the client was replacing the cartridges at least once a week, which is unacceptable to him. It was costing him much more to print than it should have to. I suggested an HP OfficeJet 8500 Pro (Model A909a) and the client agreed. The 940XL Black cartridge has a yield of approx 2200 pages of black text. This printer boasts that it is actually 50% less costly than laser printers in terms of price per page for high volume printing. I ordered it from my Distributor, TechData and it was delivered yesterday. I set the printer up to perform multiple tasks, including the ability for the client to scan a document directly to an email in the form of a PDF with minimal interaction. I know that this will help him because he is constantly signing approvals and emailing them back. Instead of going through a 10 minute long process that involved his secretary as he previously had, he can now do the same thing, by himself, in about 30 seconds. This is using only the HP Solutions software and Outlook 2003. Thanks for Reading! -[Marc Menzies]-
Dell XPS 400 (Dimension 9150) Desktop Repair
A Dell XPS 400 (Dimension 9150) presented with no power when plugged in. The computer is in repair for a client in Bethpage 11714 (Nassau County, New York). Generally, what is done in a situation like this, is to determine the cause. Since an electrical problem can cause more than one piece of hardware on the computer to blow out and cause a no power situation, all perhipherals, fans, hard drives and addon cards are unplugged from both the power to the power supply (PSU) and the Motherboard. The system will still will not power up. I attempted to use a known good power supply to test the system. The unit still would not power up. At this point, I used an ATX Power Supply Tester (I wanted to see if it was possibly a bad power supply and a bad motherboard etc), the Power Supply powered up and all voltages registered within normal range for the customer’s power supply according to the device. Note: Although the Power Supply Diagnostic Dongle or Device may show normal readings, that does not mean that the power supply is perfect. Do not forget that fans can fail in a power supply too as well as intermittent issues, voltage spikes and even issues when the Power Supply is left on and is allowed to heat up. It is important to never allow a system with a hardware replacement etc to leave the shop without having a 24 hour burn-in and a full set of Diagnostics completed, preferably those with a stress test function such as PC-Check by Eurosoft or PC Doctor Service Center 7.5. After ruling out a bad CPU via a swap, and a case short (rogue screw? or other defect) by pulling the board out of the case and testing it outside of the case on an antistatic mat, I have determined the issue to be a bad motherboard. There was no apparent scoarch marks nor were there any blown capacitors so the reason is unknown. I called the client, the repair cost was $150 for the new motherboard and $89.99 for the total labor including the diagnostic. The client agreed and I ordered the part. The new motherboard came in yesterday, I installed the board, rethermaled the CPU (cleaned off old thermal paste from the heatsink and the processor and applied new thermal paste), installed the heatsink etc. and now the unit powers up and boots to the Operating System. I had to rebrand the new motherboard with a special dell bootable cd (Dell Asset Tag Utility) to basically tell the motherboard “This is the serial number that is on your chassis (case)” because by default, new and refurbished motherboards either have no or an incorrect service tag. I couldn’t find the bootable cd but luckily I had a copy of the ISO on my NAS as well as on the server, so I burned myself another copy. I did a full set of diagnostics, stress tested the unit and left it powered up for 24+ hours. The computer passed the test. The client came into my office in North Bellmore 11710 (Nassau County,New York), and picked up the computer today. If the client has any issues hooking up the computer, he will call me and I will stop over his home tomorrow to troubleshoot any installation issues that he may have. Thank You for reading -[Marc]-
HP Pavillion dv2120us Laptop Repair
I have a lot of pending work to do on some old laptops that I have. The first of which is an HP Pavillion dv2120us Entertainment Notebook PC (dv2000).
The unit had a liquid spilled on it a few months ago. It was donated to our company. The computer presents with power but no apparent POST. Keyboard is sticky and I replaced it after cleaning up under it. I had previously ordered another keyboard for this series laptop and had just one left in stock. After replacing the faulty keyboard and performing some sticky mess cleanup on the motherboard I attempted to boot the unit. The unit POST, however the image on the screen was very faded. This is, in most likelihood either a bad inverter or a blown CCFL. I have also sen this when one of various cables was unhooked or damaged and even when there was a motherboard issue which prevented an electrical current from reaching the inverter/backlight header on the motherboard. In a situation like this, the I replaced the inverter and there is an image. Note: be sure to hook up the video cable when testing this repair. In some situations, the inverter will not power the backlight unless there is video data going to the LCD panel! The computer has POSTed and now I will install a new motherboard after reassembling the LCD assembly. Quick digression: The Husky Micro-screwdriver with the red top and the grey body is the best screwdriver for laptop repair hands-down.
Since the unit now POSTs with a functional LCD display, I have installed a new hard drive, since the old hard drive was given to the client as a part of the data recovery that I did for him back in January 2010. This leaves us with a problem. There is No Operating System on the computer, it is an HP and the COA is for Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005. The recovery discs could be ordered from the company, or I could install an OS with another PREVIOUSLY UNUSED COA, or I could install Ubuntu Linux or SuSE etc. But I want MCE 2005 and I want it now!
Since I am doing this for completely educational purposes and have absolutely no need nor intent to resell this to a client and will likely not even use this for personal use, I am comfortable enough to divulge a small amount of information. Dell OEM Operating System Reinstallation Discs are basically universal in nature. Besides the branding in the oobe folder of system32 they are basically clean OEM discs. They can be used with this HP and then activated using the COA on the bottom of the computer. The only downside is that most of the devices will need drivers installed and none of HP’s software will be present on the computer.
I installed the Operating system, Installed all drivers and installed windows updates. I just have to order a new battery and this computer will be perfect. I am thinking of using this computer to test out new distros of Linux and some virus sandbox testing.
-[Marc]-
Tale of the Headless Macbook A1181
What happens when the power header for the inverter goes dead on the logic board of an Apple Macbook A1181? Replace the Logic Board? Client thought it too expensive. You could use the laptop hooked up to an external screen, but wouldn’t that pesky screen get in the way?
My Solution: Permanently behead the Macbook! Basically it involved removing the LCD, brackets and hinges. In order to remove the wiring to the logic board, the SuperDrive also had to be temporarily removed. This procedure obviously renders the built in webcam and microphone useless and disconnected (which was not a problem with the client) but what of the wireless? By simply using a dremel to shorten the LCD brackets where the wireless antennae terminate, the antennae can both be placed where the hinges used to mount to the laptop chassis. Although there is a slight decrease in the wireless signal reception strength, it is minimal.
With this solution, the client can simply place the base of the Macbook in front of any standard LCD screen and use the laptop as they normally would.